Winning on and off the field with guest Brandon Graham (LIVE from Fanatics Fest)

Summary

Sunday Sports Club Podcast Episode: Winning on and Off the Field with Guest Brandon Graham (LIVE from Fanatics Fest) Release Date: July 3, 2025

Introduction

In this engaging episode of the Sunday Sports Club Podcast, host Allison Kuch delves deep into the life and career of Brandon Graham, a seasoned NFL veteran renowned for his leadership and pivotal role in his team's Super Bowl victory. Filmed live from Fanatics Fest, the conversation spans Brandon's illustrious 15-year career, his transition into retirement, and his dedication to family and personal growth.

Celebrating a Super Bowl Victory

Allison kicks off the discussion by congratulating Brandon on his recent Super Bowl win, highlighting the magnitude of such an achievement. Brandon shares his exhilaration post-victory, comparing the feeling to the satisfaction of starting and successfully growing a show:

"I mean, just think of how, like, you felt when you started this show and you got where you wanted to go. That's how that feel to get that accomplishment." (00:52)

He elaborates on the celebrations that accompany a Super Bowl win, including parties and parades, emphasizing the communal joy and personal fulfillment it brings.

Personal Interests and Image

The conversation takes a lighthearted turn as Allison compliments Brandon’s style, particularly his choice of cologne. Brandon reveals his preference for Louis V's "Imagination," explaining his desire to leave a lasting impression:

"I want to be the brand ambassador for the team. That's about it." (02:13)

He discusses the significance of personal grooming in building confidence, especially during high-stakes moments like the Super Bowl.

Transitioning into Retirement

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Brandon's retirement after a distinguished career. He reflects on the emotional and psychological adjustments required after dedicating 15 years to football:

"Now I'm just living off the high right now, and I'm just trying to ride it as long as it can before I come to reality where it's like, all right, it's officially over." (02:59)

Brandon addresses the challenges of moving away from the structured life of an NFL player, such as relinquishing his locker after 15 years and missing the rhythm of the season.

Leadership and Team Dynamics

Brandon shares insights into his role as a leader within the team, emphasizing the importance of consistency, sacrifice, and mentorship:

"You can't be a winner without, like we say, Coach Sirianni say this. You can't be great without the greatest others." (28:50)

He underscores the value of setting a positive example for younger players, fostering a culture of dedication and teamwork.

Balancing Family and Career

A heartfelt segment explores Brandon's commitment to his family. He discusses the delicate balance between professional obligations and personal life, highlighting intentional moments with his children:

"Making time for baby boy because, you know, you picking up and dropping off, you become the Uber driver. But as I'm in there, I'm having." (19:16)

Brandon attributes much of his successful transition to the support and communication fostered by his wife, a psychotherapist, who has been instrumental in helping him articulate and manage his emotions.

Adjusting to Life After Football

Brandon candidly talks about the emotional toll of retirement, including the initial difficulty of adjusting to life without the daily grind of training and games:

"The hardest part was moving out my locker for 15 years that I had. That was tough." (31:51)

He mentions his ongoing efforts to stay connected to the sport through media opportunities and possible future collaborations with his team, aiming to maintain a sense of purpose and community.

Personal Growth and Future Aspirations

Looking forward, Brandon expresses his desire to remain flexible and creative in his pursuits post-retirement. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining passion and purpose beyond football:

"I'm just trying to be able to be there for the kids while still having purpose and work and working every day and being able to come to stuff like this." (34:51)

Brandon envisions success in retirement as finding a balanced schedule that allows him to be present for his family while exploring new interests and opportunities.

Rapid Fire: Getting to Know Brandon Graham

The episode concludes with a fun rapid-fire segment where Brandon shares personal preferences and anecdotes:

• Vintage jerseys or modern? Vintage.
• Super Bowl win against Patriots or Chiefs? Patriots, strip sack all day. (35:56)
• Ice bath or hot tub? Ice bath for its benefits, despite the initial discomfort. (36:05)
• Home games or away games? Away games, especially loving the competitiveness against teams like Dallas. (36:30)
• Trash talking or silent killer? Prefers to talk, though admires silent competitors like Kawhi Leonard. (36:47)
• Coaching your kids' teams or cheering from the sidelines? Cheering from the sidelines, reserving coaching for home. (37:15)
• Retirement or coming out of retirement? Opting for retirement and embracing the new chapter. (37:31)

Conclusion

Allison wraps up the episode by thanking Brandon for his candid and enlightening conversation. Listeners are left with a comprehensive understanding of Brandon Graham's journey, encapsulating his professional triumphs, personal values, and the thoughtful approach he's taking towards retirement and family life.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership Matters: Brandon emphasizes the role of consistent leadership and mentorship in fostering team success.
• Family First: Balancing a demanding career with family life requires intentionality and dedication.
• Embracing Change: Transitioning into retirement involves navigating emotional adjustments and finding new sources of purpose.
• Personal Growth: Continuous learning and adaptability are crucial for success both on and off the field.

Notable Quotes:

• "I want to leave my first impression and lasting impression." (01:07) – Brandon Graham
• "Every day is an adventure. Sometimes you got plans to do certain things, and then the plans change." (24:56) – Brandon Graham
• "Quality of time instead of the quantity of time." (19:30) – Brandon Graham

Final Thoughts

This episode offers an intimate glimpse into the life of an NFL veteran transitioning into the next phase of his life. Brandon Graham’s reflections on leadership, family, and personal growth provide valuable insights for athletes and non-athletes alike, highlighting the universal challenges and triumphs that come with significant life changes.

Transcript

[Alison Kooch]

The following podcast is a Dear Media production. What's up, guys? Welcome to Sunday Sports Club Podcast, a podcast all about sports told by a woman. And that woman is me. I'm Alison Kooch, and today we are joined by none other than Brandon Graham.

[Brandon Graham]

What's up, y'? All?

[Alison Kooch]

Love your hat. Love the fit. How are you doing today?

[Brandon Graham]

I'm doing good. This is my first time. I mean, just seeing all these beautiful people, it's just like, man, I've just been enjoying my world tour right now of winning the super bowl and being a part of stuff like this and just trying to ride this high until the next bowl.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah, I mean, you're coming off a huge high, winning a Super Bowl. I don't know what that feels like. One, I don't play football. I don't know if you know that, but I don't play football, so I've never won a Super Bowl. What kind of, like, celebration does that come with?

[Brandon Graham]

Well, it just comes with a bunch of parties. For sure. You're going to that. That parade is everything. I mean, just think of how, like, you felt when you started this show and you got where you wanted to go. That's how that. That's how that feel to get that accomplishment. So do it for the city.

[Alison Kooch]

I have to ask, because me and my husband, we always kind of chop it up before I have a guest on, especially somebody that he knows personally. So I was asking him, like, give me the tea on Brandon. Right? Like, give me the tea. And Isaac had really great things to say. I mean, he was like, yeah, Brandon's a really solid guy. Like, he's the kind of guy that on a Saturday, he's, like, out in the backyard barbecuing with his family.

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, yeah.

[Alison Kooch]

He's just all around a great guy, great teammate. Also loves his cologne.

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, yeah, I'm a big cologne guy.

[Alison Kooch]

So are you switching up colognes for different, like, major life events? Are you wearing cologne to, like, your child's birth? Are you wearing cologne to the Super Bowl?

[Brandon Graham]

You know what? I'm a guy that want to leave my first impression and lasting impression. And so it's always I go to my go tos when I'm going to different things. And, you know, I like to smell good because I like to smell it on me when. When I'm walking through. So, I mean, if I had to go with anything, my number one is Louis. Louis V. Imagination.

[Alison Kooch]

Really?

[Brandon Graham]

I smell that. That thing is.

[Alison Kooch]

I'm surprised you have a number one. Does your number one ever change Out.

[Brandon Graham]

I mean, it's hard to change that one because that's the one. Wifey would be like, okay, like, where you going with that one?

[Alison Kooch]

You know, that's like, okay, I'm taking my wife out on a date.

[Brandon Graham]

Like, I want to smell good. That's the one.

[Alison Kooch]

You wore it to the Super Bowl?

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, yeah. Wore it. Super Bowl. That was my only cologne I brought on a trip because I was feeling good. And. You got to smell good, too.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah, no, I feel that I'm all about, like, a good outfit. Like, smelling good, you feel clean. Like, it kind of, like, contributes to your confidence. And if you're going and playing in a Super bowl, you have to be a little confident. No.

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, for sure. You got to make sure that you come in, do what you normally do. But you got to take it up a little notch, because it is the Super Bowl. It's the last game. You got to leave it all out there.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah. And, I mean, you left it all out there because you all won the Super Bowl. What is it like retiring from the NFL after playing for 15 years, winning the Super Bowl? I mean, Jesus Christ.

[Brandon Graham]

Yeah, you know what? It's different. It's a different feeling because normally in my mind, I'm like, man, I'm getting ready for next year. Even when we won the super bowl, it was. I knew my career wasn't over. So it's like, man, how can I get better? How can I get out that mindset of, all right now? We won the Super Bowl. How can we get re. Motivated? But now I'm just living off the high right now, and I'm just trying to ride it as long as it can before I come to reality where it's like, all right, it's officially over. I got a new schedule. Get used to that. Got my kids, so I'm enjoying that. And I'm really just enjoying all this type of stuff that I normally don't get to because I'm training and getting ready for the season.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, retiring is such a big thing because you've played football since you were how old?

[Brandon Graham]

I've been playing since I was seven.

[Alison Kooch]

So your entire life, basically, you've been 30 years.

[Brandon Graham]

Because I'm 37.

[Alison Kooch]

Okay, so exactly. It's a huge part of your life. So after retiring, I've heard that you're not really ready to retire, even though you're. You've retired, but you're still in and around the facility. I mean, you love football. You truly do love football.

[Brandon Graham]

I love being around the game. I love the. The togetherness that you got to build from the start. I mean, from the start to the finish, because you got new guys that come in every year. You always got guys that you gotta have to have them believe in the dream that you're selling with the Eagles. And So me being 15 years, that was, like, my thing after. Like, after we won that first one, that was my thing every year to try to convince people, hey, y' all came to the right place and that we gonna work here, but we gonna win here, too. And so I was happy to go out on top and enjoy this moment with the fans. And there's something that I ain't gonna never forget. And hopefully I find something to do with the team now, because they're going back. Trust me. Commanders fan, y'.

[Alison Kooch]

All.

[Brandon Graham]

Y' all about to get beat twice. And where are you at? Where he at?

[Alison Kooch]

What. What does training after retirement look like for you? My husband decided to go out and train for a marathon.

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, I love that.

[Alison Kooch]

Are you, like, how ready are you to play right now?

[Brandon Graham]

Well, right now, I'm still training a little bit. I'm trying to look good. That's my biggest thing. I'm trying to. I'm trying to slim down a little bit, watch while still holding on to the weight, just in case. But I hope they don't need me. But I'm still training pretty hard, just trying to. Cause I'm still rehabbing, so it got me into it from tearing my tricep in the super bowl, but I'm just trying to make sure that now I want to look good so I can go out there and play with my son and my baby girl. And hopefully they don't call me. Hopefully it'll just be about calling me to come to the super bowl so that we can win this thing.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah. Yeah. You're like a per. You want to be the personality hire is what you're telling me.

[Brandon Graham]

I want to be the brand ambassador for the team. That's about it.

[Alison Kooch]

A brand ambassador for the.

[Brandon Graham]

Getting them hyped for the. Before every game.

[Alison Kooch]

Honestly, I have no doubt about that, because you have to have a very strong mentality to make the decision to come back after a Week 12 injury. Yeah, that is so rare. What. What went into that decision? Like, I want to play in the Super Bowl.

[Brandon Graham]

Well, talking to other guys, that's been through it. That's been through this injury, and it was like. They was like, man, around two and a half months, I was feeling really good. I felt like I Could have played. And that was like my timeline. And so I was like, you know what? I kept telling everybody, if we make the super bowl, man, I'm coming back. And I just kept talking it, speaking it working every day. And man, God blessed me to do it. And even though I got hurt again, I wouldn't change it because I knew it was over. But I was hoping to come out clean. But if I did, if I didn't, it's okay because this was my last game anyway.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah, well, you were with the Eagles for 15 years, so I'm sure when your team that you've been with, your entire career goes to the super bowl, you don't want to be sitting on the sidelines watching like, what could have, what should have been. Yeah, I'm sure that also goes into like the mentality of, like, no, I need to get my ass out there.

[Brandon Graham]

And that's. And I want to. If that's going to be my last game, I wanted to at least had a uniform on so I can have pictures with my family. It was well worth it because we won. And you know, my family enjoyed it. They really did. We had, we got some great video, great pictures that I can live forever on that I can talk to my kids and let them know what that meant to me during that time that they was there. So I wouldn't have changed it. And I'm still happy on how things played out.

[Alison Kooch]

No, I'm sure your family is super proud of you because, I mean, it takes a lot to come back after not only a week 12 injury, but also a 15, 15 year career. And as somebody who's been on the sidelines and been in the stadium watching your husband play, it's incredible to see that. And I mean, your kids are older, so they know like, no, that's my dad. That's my dad. They're up in the stadium probably picking fights. Like, no, that is my dad. That's my actual dad.

[Brandon Graham]

Baby boy. He is all about it. And I'm just happy that my kids at this age 9 and 6 was able to. They gonna remember these times. They just right there at the times where they gonna remember certain things. Especially baby girl. I mean, she talk about stuff that I'd be like, oh, I didn't think you remember that, but baby girl remember. And I just, I'm just thankful for that because we had a good, good journey. Definitely. It was a great journey.

[Alison Kooch]

No, an incredible journey at that. Fifteen years with the Eagles. Did your perspective of the Eagles organization, the facility, the NFL in General, did it change over the course of your career?

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, yeah. I've learned just so many different lessons in that time. I mean, the good and the bad. You can kind of see when it's kind of bad and you like, man, what can we do to get out of this? Because sometimes you don't always have the guys that's believing in the dream. They want their own personal goals. Their personal goals is more than a team knows. And so these last seven years, that since I won, I mean, people, people, you. You become more credible as you continue to keep going. And for me, I just wanted to make sure, I wanted to do something and, and stay consistent with who I can be every day. And so I just was being me going out there, really showing them and practice and then most of that stuff translate to the game. But since I was gonna be the captain, people was watching me all the time, so I had to make sure I could do something that was consistent with what I do. And I was going out there and working hard every day. And I'm glad that Howie brought the guys in that believed in what I did and other guys that was leaders of the team and we went out there and showed it the last couple of years.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah, I mean, even just hearing you speak, you gave a lot of your time and energy to the team. I feel like you truly have to be dedicated to the team if you actually want to win. You want to get better. So do you think there were any, like, super pivotal choices you made that contributed to you getting better and also being a captain for over six years?

[Brandon Graham]

Yeah, I think it's the sacrifice of the things that you have to. Have to get better with. Like, for me, I, I had to make sure I keep my weight down. I eat, eat right, because I love to eat. I love same.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah, I love to eat.

[Brandon Graham]

But I knew I had to sacrifice in order to be able to perform at a level I was trying to, you know, be at. And those are the things that separate guys. Knowing what to do out there on the field. When you got to know the plays and all the stuff, you got to be able to know what other guys are doing just in case if you have to help some of the rookies out there. And I mean, it just took me to a next level of thinking because now when you get a little older, I mean, you know your job. But I wanted to, I challenged myself to know others jobs so I can help them. Especially because once you know what you're doing, you kind of know what other guys are supposed to do not saying that they going to do everything that they supposed to do all the time, but you can. You can talk to them in a. In a language that they understand for sure.

[Alison Kooch]

I feel like there's a group of guys on every NFL team that I would consider to be the leaders who are. Who are the younger rookies are looking up to. They're asking questions, they're confused about something. Guys who are paying attention the entire football game, not. Not doing your own job, clocking out and then going back out and doing your own job. It's. It's guys who are leaders. What kind of effect do you think a good guy, a good leader has on an NFL team?

[Brandon Graham]

Well, you know, you got eyes on you, and so what you doing when nobody's looking? Even when you think nobody's looking, what are you doing? Who are you? And so I always challenge myself to be who I consistently can be. In the moments where people not watching or who you like, I say who you don't think is watching. And man, do do it and always fight that urge to want to skip reps sometimes because you want to skip reps because you might be tired that day. But now I skip reps. Now the other young guy, like, well, if he can't do it, then I ain't got to do it, you know, I mean. Cause. And it just becomes that. So I tried to make sure when I was in the building that I do exactly what I need to do because I know that those young guys are looking for that excuse to get out of. Get out of something. And so that's a hard thing to do because it wasn't perfect, but for the most part, I was doing everything that I was supposed to do so that I can. So that I can always make sure that the eyes that's watching me have something good to look up to. So if those great leaders are the guys that's. Ones that's consistently trying to do what they supposed to do because they know that somebody. Somebody is always watching.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah, I mean, it kind of translates you as a dad. Like when you're in the league for 15 years, some of these guys are coming in. You're like, I might be old enough to be your dad.

[Brandon Graham]

For real? For real.

[Alison Kooch]

I mean, Isaac spoke to it a lot throughout his career. And it's so interesting because you're like, yeah, like I'm having a kid. They're like, oh, I am a kid. So it's interesting to see these leaders in the team and it's so necessary because you might not have the same connection from coaches to players. And these players really do need older guys to look up to. So what would you define as a winning athlete or somebody who is a winning person?

[Brandon Graham]

Well, somebody that's going to continue to try to come in and learn. Because even me at this age, I'm still trying to learn, I'm still trying to get better on just not even football, just life and other guys, that's, that's there where I'm going to be in my 40s one day. And how are they, how are they championing life right now on what they're doing? And I've tried to find people that's, that's struggling, but it's still got the mindset to work through and persevere through even when things not going right. Because those are the ones that get rewarded, I feel. Because you're not worried about no one else. You're happy for others because that's another thing. You gotta be happy for others. And when guys come in, I'm looking at that like, who are the guys that, that, that's selfless, you know, that's trying to come in and learn, that knows, that doesn't know everything but knows some things. But you know, they are there trying to get better and you know, have fun in the journey instead of complaining in the journey. Because I feel like people that complain in the journey and still get to where they trying to go and it's kind of like, oh man, you, I didn't like your attitude.

[Alison Kooch]

Don't complain the whole way.

[Brandon Graham]

Yeah, don't complain the whole way. Just enjoy the journey. Because if you really believe that it's going to happen, it's going to happen.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah.

[Brandon Graham]

And maybe it might happen in a different way than you think. It might be even better than you think. But your attitude through is everything and that's what people remember. And so I always watch that in a young guy. It's like, is your personal board in the team or you know, are you a little more selfless that I can work with and give me a little, a little give and take because I want you to get your personal. But I need you to stay humble and stay, stay ready because I might need you to learn a little something from this guy that I feel can help you. But you know, if you're not open to that, that's kind of hard. It's kind of hard, right?

[Alison Kooch]

I definitely feel like there's a decision to make there, right?

[Brandon Graham]

Yes.

[Alison Kooch]

When you face adversity, you can make the decision to be positive. Or you can make the decision to complain, Go home, soul, come back the next day. But it truly does translate. Off the field energy translates to on the field energy.

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, yeah.

[Alison Kooch]

And you've described yourself as a wife guy on the team, and I kind of want to get into that, because what exactly is a wife guy?

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, a wife guy. I mean, you know what? I would just. When you said that, it made me think about Fletch, because every day I know I just had just left my wife. But then we start FaceTiming, and you know how I want to see the kids sometimes I just want to see her again because it's just like, I mean, I got some little time. Hey, what's up, baby? I know I just seen you probably like 30 minutes ago, but just want.

[Alison Kooch]

To say being obsessed with your wife is a good thing.

[Brandon Graham]

No, it's a good thing. Especially if it's the same. If it's both ways where, you know, you can feel that love. And so sometimes. Sometimes it just get me out of a bad moment. And that's why people say, but everybody ain't happy for that either, because they want to have that. But, I mean. And I try to make sure I cherish that. So, I mean, if people say I'm a wife guy, that's really. Because I love her. And you go, I mean, they see me every day talking to her, even after I done probably seen her, like I say, 30 minutes ago.

[Alison Kooch]

Damn. I hope every guy that's married is a wife guy. Right. Like, I hope all these men are putting in that energy.

[Brandon Graham]

I hope it's both ways. Both ways, for sure. Yeah.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah.

[Brandon Graham]

Because, you know, you got to like what you. You got to like if you're going to do it. Let's. Let's. Let's go all the way with it, and let's see what happens. But I can't. I can't have you bringing in old baggage, from what you heard about, that you need to take care of before you get with me. You know what I'm saying? And we can build together, but at least, you know, I need you to own what it is that you probably hold on to so that we can help each other but act as a team. Yeah, it's a team. It's a team. Team effort.

[Alison Kooch]

I love that. So you guys met when you were in high school, correct?

[Brandon Graham]

Right.

[Alison Kooch]

And then what translated from there, really.

[Brandon Graham]

It was just us being friends, talking all the time, checking in. Then we went on a cold period where years, we wasn't really talking. But then when we reconnected. It just kind of messed. Well, because she just had got out of a relationship. We were just being friends again and just keeping the conversation going. And then a couple of years later, next thing you know, we together get married in 2014, and now we. 11 years. 11 years.

[Alison Kooch]

Strong man. Impressive. Congrats on 11 years. Because it is truly impressive. And your wife is impressive as well. I mean, she is one beautiful, but also she. She's educated, she's following her own dreams.

[Brandon Graham]

She is a psychotherapist. And so it's like, boy, I wouldn't.

[Alison Kooch]

Want to get in a fight with her.

[Brandon Graham]

Hey, is you reading me right now? Is you over here messing with my mind? No, but it'd be fun though. It'd be. It's just cool because she's helped me be able to communicate and learn and articulate my feelings a little more and what I'm really dealing with. And I had to be open to that because at first it used to be, oh, I'm good, and, and you know, all this stuff. And I feel like that brought us closer because when you grow up, you don't realize how much, you know, some of the stuff that you've learned from your family or your mom or dad. It was some great stuff, but it's some trauma in there too. And you have to be open to knowing that you ain't perfect. And so when I was finally open to that, I felt better. I felt like, man, now I'm not nervous to go to. I got a safe space now other than trying to. Trying to think about it in my own mind for sure.

[Alison Kooch]

Oh, my. No. And it goes into communication that, like, when raising a family, when it comes to the NFL, is no easy task, especially as a dad who wants to be involved, who wants to be at the, at the football games, who wants to be dropping off at gymnastics classes. So what do those conversations look like when you're growing your family in the NFL, but you got a job too, got to be a leader at home, a leader on the team. How did you guys, like, go into that?

[Brandon Graham]

It could be overwhelming at times because sometimes you might have to do a little more work at home that you want to do. But as long as you intentional on like those 15 minute moments where my son like, hey, can we go outside and play Cats? All right. Sometimes I'll be like, man, I'm tired. But you know what? All I know is it's going to be 15 minutes and he going to move on to the next thing, but he going to be Happy that I at least know that I can pick up everything and drop. Drop everything and go work with him. And so you got to be intentional in no moments. And you got to kind of know when you can get away a little bit. Because I'm not perfect with it sometimes. Like, son, I'm tired today. Like, give me a little minute.

[Alison Kooch]

But a lot of parents can relate to that that are in the NFL.

[Brandon Graham]

And so you just can't let that be your norm of. No, not right now, man. I'm tired. It's like, you gotta really suck it up. I work, work when I'm at work, and sometimes I have to work a little extra at home, but I try to make it intentional where I'm eating at the table with my kids every night. And on top of that, taking baby girl to gymnastics, because that's a lifestyle within itself. But then making time for baby boy because, you know, you picking up and dropping off, you become the Uber driver. But as I'm in there, I'm having.

[Alison Kooch]

Those conversations, we should put Uber on that hat instead of the Eagles, Lyft.

[Brandon Graham]

Uber, whatever one you. All of them. But I'll just try to make sure that I'm intentional on the time I spend. It's about the quality of time instead of the quantity of time.

[Alison Kooch]

Right. But I feel like you putting in that extra work throughout your football career now helps you in this transition to not being in the NFL and being in a different position. And it's not like you're going from zero. Like, you know your kids schedules, you know where they have to be, when they have to be there. And I'm sure that helps out a ton.

[Brandon Graham]

It do. Because you see some guys, they make excuses on not being. Because you can use football to say, oh, I'm busy, or I got this going on. You can easily tell people and they gotta believe because you are playing still. But I always tried to make sure my wife was intentional on that too. On making sure I know who I am as a dad and as a family man and who I am in our household. And so you gotta be. You really do gotta put that work in. And it's not easy at times, but like, it's easy when everything going good. But who are you when the season not going good and now your kids is like you going through a loss and they over here, Daddy, Daddy. And they don't care about no win or loss.

[Alison Kooch]

Daddy, I don't care that you lost your game. I want to go outside. I need you to be.

[Brandon Graham]

I need you to Be you so that we can go play. And you said you was going to take us here, but now you can't go take us here because now you mad. So I tried to make sure I fight against the easy, wrong thing to do, then the hard right thing, and that's sucking it up and spending that time. So I always tried to make sure I was in intentional because I want to know. I want to continue to know who I am in my. In my marriage and my. And my. Who I am to my kids, for sure.

[Alison Kooch]

And that goes into my next question. How is your wife when it comes to football? Was she like a tough love kind of girl? Was she like, okay, you lost. Like, shake it off. Like, let's go and do something. Or was she like, okay, I'm going to comfort you. What. What kind of role did she play throughout?

[Brandon Graham]

She a little hardcore. Like. Like, you know, like when she'd give me my time, that's one thing she would do. But she like, nah. She like, what you gonna do about it? Like, you know, I mean, how y' all gonna. She'll start asking me questions about where. How is the team feeling? What you gonna do? What's the plan? Like, just wanna. Because she in it too, because she hurt just like me, but she just like me. She is quick to, like, try to fix it and try to make sure that I'm good, but I'm gonna. I'm a guy that's. That don't hold on to stuff too long or try not to. And, you know, we always about, what's the plan for the next thing? And so that's how she tried to play it. And I think I rubbed off on her on that because she used to just kind of be like, suck it up. Like, you know, but that was me.

[Alison Kooch]

I was like, I don't care.

[Brandon Graham]

Yeah, she got a little more patience.

[Alison Kooch]

I'm pregnant. My feet hurt. Somebody needs to rub them, and nobody.

[Brandon Graham]

Right. And that's another thing. Even when on my lost days, he like, hey, I know you lost, but I need. I need that foot rub tonight. My feet hurting a little bit. So that's when you got to suck it up sometimes.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah. Was she superstitious at all? Was she nervous during games?

[Brandon Graham]

It was certain stuff that I didn't do before games. And so she. She held me to that. When I tried to be sneaky and.

[Alison Kooch]

Do little things, she's like, wait, I see you. Like, what are you doing?

[Brandon Graham]

You might be looking good one day, baby. Yeah.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah. Okay. So while you're playing in the NFL, it's kind of hard to do quite quality family time. But now you're gonna have a lot more time for your family. What does quality family time look like for you and your family?

[Brandon Graham]

So waking up, putting the kids together or watching their face, brushing their teeth, having them put their own stuff together, because, you know, I try to let them do their thing now that they're older, other than I just make sure I'm brushing their teeth and stuff. Yeah, but. But taking them to school, I got my time in between when they at school nine to three, and me and wifey might go to lunch, do something fun. Cause she work from home, but she, like I said, psychotherapist. And so she's. She has clients during the day. I'll go work out. Sometimes I'll go, you know, just kind of meet up with people, go golfing, stuff like that.

[Alison Kooch]

Big golf fan?

[Brandon Graham]

Yeah. You like golf fan. Just got my. Just got my clubs, all that stuff. So I'm trying to talk my trash in golf now, other than, you know, I don't know.

[Alison Kooch]

Trash talking on a golf course doesn't really translate that well, huh?

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, it do. When you hit. When you hitting that good shot and you and your guy you playing with ain't playing so good, and y' all got a nice little friendly bet. It's a great feeling.

[Alison Kooch]

Well, speaking of that, is there anything that you weren't able to do while playing in the NFL that now you're, like, dying to do? Like, are you trying to go skydiving?

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, I did that already. I did that back in 2010. I hope the Eagles are when I first started. But, you know, I didn't. I didn't always do, like, stuff to risk my contract being voided, but that was one thing that I wanted to do that was pretty cool. You got somebody on your back, you know, you jump. As soon as they open that door, it's time to go. And, man, it was crazy. Feel like I'm a thrill seeker. So what I want to do with my kids, I got a roller coaster or amusement park book, and so I got different ones I want to check off and go do with my kids. I've been to Cedar Point. That was one we grew up with in Michigan. It's in Ohio, but it wasn't far from us, so we used to do that every year. And I want. I want to do that with my kids. I want to check off different theme parks that. That I can go to with them.

[Alison Kooch]

Oh, I'm a huge. I love. I love Them Cedar Point. Is that what you're talking about, Ohio? Yeah. Okay, you are a thrill seeker. So it sounds like you're trying to juggle a lot, right? Like, got to get your kids ready for school, but also you want them to, like, enjoy life and like, and seek the thrill. But also you got sports and all these things. How do you juggle everything as a parent? And what advice would you give to other parents who are kind of struggling to juggle things like that?

[Brandon Graham]

Well, just take it one day at a time, because every day is an adventure. Sometimes you got plans to do certain things, and then the plans change. And how are you when plans change? Because some people don't like when things change and they don't adjust well and they have an attitude the rest of the day. But me, I'm all about, hey, life gonna always throw different curves, nerve balls at you, so you better get ready. And if you gotta. If you got a day that went your way, man, that's a. That's a great day. But every day is not gonna be like that. And so you better be able to adjust. And that's all it really is. What they say pivot. You got to be able to pivot.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah, you got to be able to pivot. You got to be. You got to have plan A, B, C, D, e, F, Z, 1, 2, 3.

[Brandon Graham]

Because your kids mood is going to be a little different. And it might take your mood on what you had so much excitement for today. It's like we going to an amusement park. What you crying about? What y' all fighting about? You know what I'm saying?

[Alison Kooch]

Don't make me turn this car around. Right. I. I will turn the car. No, actually turn the car around. I'm going to the theme park. I want to enjoy my time.

[Brandon Graham]

I want to enjoy my time.

[Alison Kooch]

Exactly.

[Brandon Graham]

You know, but it's just you got to be able to pivot when things don't go your kids way. And you got to be there to comfort them real quick, get them back real back in, like, hey, come on. And you got to be. It just takes time, but it's one day at a time. It's not something that you could think of futuristic. Because nine times out of ten, what we think about in our mind don't really be our reality. And so it's like you got to make sure that you, you know, not worried about stuff that you can't control. I'm a control what I can do right now. And I'm going to console my baby until she get right all Right, baby girl, like we here now, like, if you're going to cry all day, then we can go. I promise you. So let me see a smile before you go out there, baby. Let me see it.

[Alison Kooch]

She's like crying and smiling.

[Brandon Graham]

She's like, you know what I'm saying? Hey, but, but that works for me. And.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah.

[Brandon Graham]

And you just know your kids are different. My son is way different than my daughter and my daughter is me. Outgoing, just outspoken, all that stuff. But it's more like, hey, baby girl, I got to come at her a different way than I do him.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah, for sure.

[Brandon Graham]

You got to know that.

[Alison Kooch]

No, I respect that. How did your kids feel about you retiring? Because they were very much a part of your entire NFL career.

[Brandon Graham]

Yep.

[Alison Kooch]

I mean that. Were they like sad? Were they excited? More time with dad, they were more.

[Brandon Graham]

Sad because baby girl, she just. Well, baby boy, he thought that it was over for us coming to games. I'm like, no, man, we can now go.

[Alison Kooch]

He's like, I'm gonna miss the NFL.

[Brandon Graham]

We can still go back, still be on the field. We can still walk and, you know, do that before pregame. But now you just don't see daddy out there playing. And so now I'm be there in the seat with you and we can cheer together because I'm always be with the Eagles and you know, always. They always going to have that. And it's tough to kind of root for anybody else because I've been here for so long, but I know what you saying, you had to, you had to spread it all around. Like, I'm thankful that I was there all 15 years.

[Alison Kooch]

What do you want your kids to remember most about football, dad?

[Brandon Graham]

Well, I just want them to know that when they get older, like, man, I know how busy I am in my career and man, for you to juggle all this when they, when they had a kids and one day be like, man, dad, how you do this? It's like one day at a time.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah.

[Brandon Graham]

Yeah. I had to deal with your attitude.

[Alison Kooch]

Some days and one day at a time.

[Brandon Graham]

Had to take a deep breath, turn around, get myself together, and then go back to work. And so that's what I'm gonna say with them. I can't wait to that day that it kind of come back around because my son is me. When I was younger and he, he just non stop, my people, my family used to tell me that all the time. But I'm getting a good dose of that. And you know, what is it?

[Alison Kooch]

A taste of your own medicine.

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, yeah. And one day. Stuff that you preach now.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah.

[Brandon Graham]

One day I hope that they be like, man, I'm so happy that you. That you did that for me, you know, because they. Right now, I'm getting a lot of pushback, especially from baby girl.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah, we be doing that. We be doing that. That's okay. Your kids got to watch you win a lot. I mean, super bowl, multiple Super Bowls. Right? What lessons do you want them to learn about being a winner?

[Brandon Graham]

Well, I want them to know you can't be a winner without, like we. We say, Coach Sirianni say this. You can't be great without the greatest others. So you have to make sure that the people that you're around that you serve into, because you can. You can win all day. And I want you to be a winner. But it's about how. How are you as a. As a team, as a team, team person. Because it ain't always about you, and you didn't always get to that winning stage by yourself. And so I want you to always remember to have that server's mindset, because I want to see other people get to their winning stage, you know, and they're winning level of whatever their win is in their mind, but while you still winning. Because I feel more. More as a winner when I can help someone else and they can be happy for me just as much as I was happy for them. Because you gonna have. You gonna have them expectations for people to be happy for you in your moment. But if you can't do that for them, then nobody likes what we say. It's just like, yeah, it's like, yeah, you won, but I ain't like how you was acting. Like what we say when people complain about, oh, man, I could have did that, or that person, oh, they shouldn't have won. It's like, no, they won because you don't know what went into that. So.

[Alison Kooch]

Right.

[Brandon Graham]

I want them to be able to be good with serving others just as much as they are winners.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah. I mean, it's an intentional decision to make those choices. Right. So how are you making intentional choices beyond sports to change the game for you, your family, community?

[Brandon Graham]

Well, you know what? I'm always serving God, making sure that I'm doing that. That's number one. And then making sure that I'm intentional on my idle time that I have right now, being able to, hey, why. Let's. Let's go. Let's go out to eat. Let's go do this. You know, making sure I'm using the time.

[Alison Kooch]

You're a big date guy. You like dates?

[Brandon Graham]

I like. I like. I like doing that.

[Alison Kooch]

You said you liked food, so you got like, dates, right? They have food. Your wife, I mean, you like both. They. You have to enjoy at some point.

[Brandon Graham]

It ain't always got to be there. I can, I can set it up at the house, surprise her with her favorite meal after her look.

[Alison Kooch]

Oh, he's a romantic guy.

[Brandon Graham]

I tried. I try a little bit. I ain't. I ain't the best, but I always, I'm open to asking other guys, like, hey, man, I like how you did that. Like, tell me what you, what you thought about when you did that, you know, and I might, I might copy something that I seen, but. But for the most part, do it the way that I would do it because I. Because, you know, your wife, you know, and so I'm all about trying to surprise her because she, she always got a need to. She on a need to know basis. So I'm always in that.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah, you're in that. You're trying to surprise. I like a good surprise. Isaac, if you're listening, I like a good surprise.

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, yeah, it's cool. Because most of the time she's like, well, where are we going? I'm like, look, I'm like, I always try to give her something to, to, to keep her mind going or I try to give her something to keep her busy so that she ain't got to worry about what we're doing. It's like, look, we on our way. I got you. Just. Just trust me. And so that's what I try to do.

[Alison Kooch]

Lots, lots more time for date nights now, especially in retirement. So that's the last we can thing that we can head into and talk about retirement. What has been the hardest adjustment in retirement?

[Brandon Graham]

So my first, hardest part was moving out my locker for 15 years that I had. That. That was tough. That was tough.

[Alison Kooch]

I know the Eagle fans here are like, dang, yeah, that hurts.

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, that one hurt me right there. That one hurt me. But so they, you know, it's just one of those things where you just got to go through each step of it. Right now it's the summertime. This one I usually ramp up to get ready for the training. Get ready for training camp because you want to be in shape by the time you get there. And, you know, now it's like, man, I'm starting to get that feeling again. It's like, dang.

[Alison Kooch]

So you're missing the cadence a little bit. I'm missing it the year Clock of what the NFL is, the rhythm.

[Brandon Graham]

The rhythm of what my offseason usually is around this time. And so I'm making sure that right now I'm actually dealing with those emotions one day at a time. And as we get closer, I'm a go. I'm a go see training camp. I'm going to watch the guys. I'm not going to cold turkey and just get away from it. I'm going to make sure that I, that I just do it the way I'm going to do it and see what my new schedule going to be. And that's all it really is.

[Alison Kooch]

What do you think has been the easiest part about retirement, Eagles fans? You can close your ears for this one.

[Brandon Graham]

Well, you know, not people not searching for me. Hey, B.G. where you at, man? You late. You're late. You're late for this. You know what I'm saying?

[Alison Kooch]

Are you. Are you. I was never.

[Brandon Graham]

I'm always on time. I'm never. I'm always early because sometimes I want to get a little nap in before the meeting start or something like that. Maybe we got 20, 30 minutes. I'm like, I'm tired.

[Alison Kooch]

You're in those meeting rooms. Just head down.

[Brandon Graham]

Hey, just wake me up when, when Vic start the meeting, you know, and sometimes that's what I'm doing. Especially in training camp because those hot days, I mean, you got so much energy and then they take all your energy and then. And then by the end of the day after practice, you got the meat and still when you drained after practice.

[Alison Kooch]

You'Re falling asleep at the dinner table.

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, yeah.

[Alison Kooch]

Baby girl is like, wake up, dad.

[Brandon Graham]

Eat your green beans. No good. I'm no good at that point.

[Alison Kooch]

What does success look like for you? And when it comes to retirement, so.

[Brandon Graham]

Successful me is finding that same passion and, you know, that same. I feel like I'm. I'm in that speed right now with us just even talking. I got a couple things going on right now in the media space. The team want me to do something with them. I'm just loving the opportunity that's coming my way. But it's more about what I'm gonna be proud of getting up doing every day. So I'm just taking it, like I say, one day at a time and enjoying like right now just finding my schedule. Once that schedule starts for me, then I think that'll be successful me for sure.

[Alison Kooch]

No, I love that. And, well, that's what I was going to ask next is what does winning look like for you now? Yeah, like, what would be your trophy in retirement?

[Brandon Graham]

So my trophy is what's your goal?

[Alison Kooch]

What's your five year plan? What's your ten year. No, I'm kidding.

[Brandon Graham]

I know, right? For real? Well, really, three to five years. Me and wifey just want to make sure that I explore different things. Don't just fill my whole schedule up with one big thing for sure. Because of course the Eagles want to fill that up with everything. Come work for us and we gonna. And you're gonna be with us and be committed. But I want to be creative on my next moves. I want to be able to be flexible. And especially early on right now, this is my first. It's only been three, four months, and I'm like, man, retirement is great.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah.

[Brandon Graham]

But I want to make sure that if I do do anything, like in the media space, is more flexible in that, in that area. And so I'm trying to be able to be there for the kids while still having purpose and work and working every day and being able to come to stuff like this, going to visit family, like stuff that you normally don't get to do and being able to be flexible to do that. And so that's why. That's where I'm at. That's what a winning schedule will be for me, being able to be flexible.

[Alison Kooch]

Okay, and last question before we head into Zoom. Some rapid fire questions. What's next?

[Brandon Graham]

What's next for me? Shoot. I might be up here with a show with, with you or, or, or your husband.

[Alison Kooch]

Don't take my spot now.

[Brandon Graham]

Never know. I ain't going to take your spot now. Hey, like I told you, I'm trying to serve. I'm trying to serve and, and, and boost everybody up. So I think for me, yeah, just like that, that space, like, you know, doing, doing something like that, you have good energy.

[Alison Kooch]

I think you would do well. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We just, you know, welcome on the podcast anytime.

[Brandon Graham]

We got to bring energy when you come around. For real.

[Alison Kooch]

All right, some rapid fire questions before we wrap it up. Vintage jerseys or modern?

[Brandon Graham]

Vintage.

[Alison Kooch]

Super bowl win versus Patriot? Super bowl win. Patriots or the Chiefs?

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, I'm going Patriots all day, cuz. Strip sack all day. Yeah, Yeah.

[Alison Kooch]

Y. Y for recovery. Ice bath or hot tub?

[Brandon Graham]

You know what? I'm gonna go ice bath because I know it is good for you. But it's tough though. I mean, every day that I was doing it, I mean, you gotta get your mind right for that one.

[Alison Kooch]

What's good for you doesn't always feel good.

[Brandon Graham]

Oh, yeah. And it's definitely good for you, but it don't feel good for the first five.

[Alison Kooch]

Five minutes we have one. And I will not be stepping foot into that. Home games or away games.

[Brandon Graham]

You know what? I like traveling, so I'm gonna go away games and I. I like beating Dallas and Dallas.

[Alison Kooch]

Oh, I like that.

[Brandon Graham]

Y.

[Alison Kooch]

Trash talking or silent killer? Are you talking when you're lining up?

[Brandon Graham]

I'm a talker. If I was a silent killer. Oh, that. That's even better. Like, I like. Let me think. Kawhi Leonard. I like how he just. I mean, just man beat us a couple times in Philly that last shot, and that was the most excitement I ever seen him. But for the most part, he a silent killer. And if I could, that's just not my personality. But if I could, I'll be a silent killer.

[Alison Kooch]

If I could, I would. Right?

[Brandon Graham]

Yep.

[Alison Kooch]

Coaching your kids teams or cheering from the sidelines?

[Brandon Graham]

I'm a. I'm a cheer from a sideline type of guy. Because when I'm a coach, I'm a coach them at home. I'm going to let the coaches do what they do and when they get older, we can work out together.

[Alison Kooch]

Yeah, Okay. I like that. Retirement or coming out of retirement?

[Brandon Graham]

You know, if you're gonna. If you're gonna move on, I'm gonna go ahead. If I do it, if I come back, I'm gonna have to deal with it one another year anyway, so I'd rather deal with it. So I'm gonna say retirement.

[Alison Kooch]

Love that for you. Well, thank you so much for coming on Sunday Sports Club podcast. Be sure to tune in every Sunday. Thank you for coming on. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.